As some of you know, a month ago, I attended the launching of 5 European brands to be locally available here in the Philippine and Color Society Philippines brought them here. I've blogged about it and if you want to read my post and read about those new European brands, please click here.

One of the 5 brands is Essence which originated from Germany. Essence arrived here in the Philippines just few months ago and people are already digging their stuff because of its good quality yet affordable prices. I am actually already a fan of Essence and I was really happy and thankful for the box of goodies that Color Society Philippines had given the beauty bloggers who attended the launching. The box that I received was full of Essence cosmetics and a lip gloss from GOSH cosmetics plus a blow dryer from American Heritage! Haha! Because of that awesome box, you'll be reading a lot of Essence product reviews here in my blog. I have already reviewed their Get Big! Lashes Volume Curl Mascara and their Eyebrow Stylist Set which I both love and so far, I've also been loving most, if not all, of the Essence cosmetics from the box that I received. First up, Essence Clear & Matt Make-Up!

I received two foundations from Color Society and this is the first one that I picked up to try because it says "matt" and "oil-free"! I always look for this kind of foundations because my skin is oily-combination and so I wanted to see if this would really work on me.

Essence Clear & Matt Make-Up is contained in a hard plastic squeeze-tube bottle with a tiny nozzle so you have an easier control to dispense the foundation. The bottle is light and very travel-friendly.

It is available in three shades only;01 Porcelain, 02 Honey, and 03 Sand. I got the shade 01 Porcelain and I think it's a little pinkish and lighter than my skin color but I can make it work so it's still okay and also, it oxidizes after about 2 hours or less.

The consistency is not too liquidy/runny but it's light so it's not capable in covering major imperfections on the face but it can conceal the redness of my skin. It gives light to medium coverage. One thing that I like about it is that it feels so light on my face like I don't have a foundation on. With its coverage though, I can say that this foundation is just great for everyday / casual looks.

From the product description that you've read above, it claims to abate oiliness and mattify your skin. The finish is not totally matte, just semi-matte but the fact that it has a smooth finish and it can last for long hours just effin' amazes me! For its light texture, I didn't think that it would last on my face for more than 3 hours. Look at this photo below. Almost 9 hours had passed and my face still looks smooth and the coverage is still good although you can clearly see that my face already got oily. But that's about 9 hours already and it may not look as matte as the first photo and my lip color may had already faded but my foundation stayed intact.

*FIRST TEST*

Here's a photo of my bare face:

Here's me with 2 layers of the Essence Clear & Matt Make-up. It was able to cover my dark under eye circles, redness of my skin and some light pimple scarring but as you can see, it is lighter than my skin color. When I look at the foundation, it looks like it has a yellow undertone but when I apply it on my skin, it would turn a little pinkish.

Here's what the foundation looks like after setting it with translucent powder. Who wouldn't be impressed with that flawless and smooth coverage? I just hope it matches my original skin color.

Here's a photo of me with complete make-up on:

After a total of 9.5 hours:

*SECOND TEST*

I thought maybe it's just the translucent powder that I used from Glory of New York that made the foundation last for almost 10 hours so I decided to do another test without using a translucent powder to seal it in. I just used a pressed powder this time to set the foundation.

Before: (freshly applied makeup)

After 3 hours:

After 8 hours:

What more can I say? A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Hehe! Although I can say that the Glory of New York Translucent Powder that I used on the first test made the foundation last longer but still, the foundation is pretty great!The foundation was able to control the oiliness of my skin and it didn't completely fade out even after hours and hours without retouching. Whenever I take photos chronologically for product reviews, I make it a point that I don't retouch nor even blot my face to get rid of oiliness which is not really difficult and a big problem for me since I'm the type of girl who doesn't care about her face anymore once she walks out the door. Haha! I don't really retouch not unless my face looks super oily and unpleasant and I'm in a special occasion but for regular days especially when I'm in school, I don't really care about retouching anymore.

Going back to the product review, yup - I love the Essence Clear & Matt Make-Up because it does reduce the oiliness of my face, it has a good coverage, longevity is commendable and it's not going to hurt your pocket! I'm not sure how much is the exact price of this foundation but I think it's just around Php 250.00. I also want to add up that even though it can mattify your skin, it will not make your face look and feel dry. It's quite moisturizing, in fact.

I will surely repurchase this but in a shade that will match my skin color napara mas okay na talaga! :) It's definitely a product that I would recommend for people with oily skin and for those who are looking for a budget-friendly foundation.

Ms. Eunice, the owner of Kering Keri Store must have noticed my unorganized makeup stuff when she watched my Updated Makeup Collectionso she kindly gifted me two cosmetic organizers! Haha! I received her message last week saying that she watched my video and she's willing to give me organizers for my makeup. I was a happy girl when I read her message because I'm in dire need of organizers for my growing makeup collection and everything's just everywhere on my vanity tables. It's the perfect timing and Ms. Eunice's message is definitely a blessing in disguise! :)

When I gave her my shipping details, she was surprised to know that I live not too far away from their home so we decided to just meet up at the nearest McDonald's branch from our houses. Meeting her was so much fun and I truly enjoyed her company, as well as her sister's! Thank you girls for being so nice and for the kwentohan! Hahaha! :)

The package that she gave me, I must say, is the most presentable package that I've ever received. It was just neatly and nicely wrapped with a vibrant yellow wrapper with pink bow tie! It's just so cute and very flattering, too! Thank you so much, Ms. Eunice, for taking the time to wrap it pa in such a cute way! Hihi! <3 p="">

These are the two organizers that I received:

* 24 Slots Lipstick Organizer - Php 230.00

* Cosmetic Box All in One - (price not available)

> brush and comb holders

> hair dryer hanger

> rings and necklaces container

> lipstick and face color holders

O 'di ba? Kering keri talaga ang presyo! I love both of these but the Cosmetic Box is just the bomb! I put all of my major and everyday brushes in there as well as my everyday makeup stuff, brow tools and essentials, and my contact lenses. :) It's definitely a space saver!

I now have two lipstick holders (I won the other one last November) and my vanity tables look better and more organized than before. However, still not spacious enough! >.< Oh well, Kering Keri Store is absolutely a big help for me! Thank you so much, Ms. Eunice once again! :)

Don't forget to visit their sites to check out their other organizers and the makeups that they sell for affordable prices! :)

So last week or a couple of weeks ago, a StaceyMarie_07 in Twitter requested for a makeup tutorial for acquaintance party because I think they will be having the said event at their school real soon. When I think about acquaintance party --- proms, homecoming dance and other school events also pop into my mind so I thought of doing a makeup look that is perfect for any formal events. I was originally planning to do an eye makeup with pink eye shadow but I ended up with this look since I think it's more versatile.

The focus on this look is the eye makeup and I did a glamorous smokey eyes that you can pair with any gown color.

In this photo, the only thing missing is the lip color but when I compared this photo to the photo of my finished look, I realized nude lips is way better for this look so you can totally just go for a nude lip color, too!

PRODUCTS USED:

FACE

Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser

Glory of New York Total Coverage Foundation in 210

Glory of New York Translucent Powder in No. 2

Glory of New York Dual Powder in 42

FS Cosmetics Two Way Cake in Fantasia

PROPS Disco Matte Palette (pink blush)

In2It Sheer Shimmer Blush in Pink Pearl

EYEBROWS

San San Eyebrow Pencil in No. 2

EYES

Glory of New York Concealer & Eyeshadow Base in Light

PROPS Disco Matte Palette (brown eyeshadow)

Virginia Olsen Minerals Eyeshadow in Planet

NYX Single Eyeshadow in Black

Fashion 21 Defining Eyeliner in Black

K-Palette 1-day Tattoo Real Lasting Eyeliner

Fashion 21 Double Up Mascara

HBC Essentials NE36 false eyelashes

LIPS

Essence XXXL Shine Lip Gloss in Nude Kiss

NYX Xtreme Li Cream in Pinky Nude

Here's the video tutorial:

I hope you liked it and if you're going to recreate this look, may I ask for you to post a photo on my Facebook page so I can see your pretty faces! :) To StaceyMarie_07, I hope this look passed your standards! Hahaha! :) Keep sending in your requests!

Last Monday, my boyfriend and I went to Annapolis because I have an appointment with Virginia Olsen Minerals to pick up the prizes for my upcoming meet-and-greet! YEY! While I was at VOM's office, my boyfriend wandered around Greenhills Shopping Center as he waited for me. It was also our 57th month that day so it's also kind of a date. Hihi! We don't usually celebrate the so-called "monthsary" but since we're already out, might as well celebrate it just a little bit. Hehe!

If you don't know, I am a proud member of Iglesia Ni Cristo since birth. Yearly, we have our thanksgiving days - Mid-year and Year-end thanksgiving. Yesterday was our mid-year thanksgiving and these occasions are big and sacred for us. We prepare ourselves spiritually and even physically. We buy pretty and decent clothes for this holy occasion. Since I am in love with the dress that I bought for our mid-year thanksgiving yesterday, I am going to share with you my first ever OOTD --- PLUS SIZE OOTD at that!

Last Friday, we went to SM North Edsa to buy outfits for the said occasion. My Father always buys us our clothes but there are times when I refuse to let him pay if I have the money naman. However, I was kinda broke (haha) so he bought my dress for me. And I am absolutely happy and thankful because he bought me a dress from Forever21! Hahah! But I'm more thankful that I found a dress from Forever21 that actually fits. LOL

TAAADDAAAAAAH! I'm sorry, had to crop-out my malalaking braso. Haha!

I just love this very simple yet classy-looking maxi dress. I love the lace and all. The dress also has a knee-high slit on the left side. The bottom part is made out of cotton fabric. I got this for P1,275 from Forever21 at SM North Edsa The Block. I used a black see-through bolero from Get Laud! because sleeveless is not allowed inside the church and, o sige na nga, to cover my arms! Haha! I forgot to take a photo of my shoes but this is the pair that I wore - my white wedges from Lower East Side that I got from Payless Shoe Source at SM North Annexfor P1000+. Sorry, I forgot the exact amount!

For the FOTD, nothing really special. I just went for that simple and clean makeup look paired with loud lip color. Yes, it's my Wet N Wild Megalast Lipstick in Smokin' Hot Pink which I also used in my previous FOTD. I just love the color a lot!

His own OOTD. Hahaha! I love his polo-barong and the whole black outfit. ;-)

Kaso photobomber yung slippers ng pamangkin ko!!! >.<

Just want to say that I am not a "fashionista"/fashion enthusiast. I wear clothes that I think are pretty, presentable and comfortable for me. I used to avoid doing OOTD because I am fat and I was shy but I realized, what's the point in hiding when you can clearly see me in my videos and some of you have already seen me in person! Hahaha! And also, I'm trying to love myself more. Y'all know what I mean! I hope you liked this post and to all my fellow plump girls out there, let me know if you want to see more of my SIMPLE OOTDs. ;)

I'm back to share another late FOTD with you guys. This was my look yesterday and nothing really special actually but I love it because the foundation and the lipstick that I used here are two of my new makeup products.

The lipstick was still sealed yesterday and it was literally my first time to use it. This is Wet N Wild Megalast Lipstick in Smokin' Hot Pink, by the way. I love Wet N Wild lippies and this has got to be my favorite shade (so far)! I just love how it instantly brightened up my face and how it makes a very simple look gorgeous! As usual, I just applied mascara on my eyes for that simple and clean look then paired it with a bold lip color. This is such a perfect combo! :) Ooh, by the way, I love my foundation here. It was also my first time to use it and I instantly fell in love with it. It's the Essence Soft Touch Mousse Make-Up!